MELIAI
Greek Name
Νυμφαι Μηλιαι
Transliteration
Nymphai Mêliai
Latin Spelling
Nymphae Meliae
Translation
Nymphs of Melos
THE NYMPHAI MELIAI were Naiad-nymphs of the Aegean island of Melos. They were transformed into frogs by Zeus as punishment for burying the body of Euphorion, a blasphemous youth who had tried to fly to heaven.
PARENTS
Presumably daughters of a mainland RIVER-GOD
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History Book 4 (summary from Photius, Myriobiblon 190) (trans. Pearse) (Greek mythographer C1st to C2nd A.D.) :
"There was born of Helene and Akhilleus (Achilles) in the Islands of the Blest a winged child named Euphorion after the fertility of this land; Zeus caught him and with a blow knocked him to earth in the isle of Melos, where he continued the pursuit and changed the Nymphai (Nymphs) there into frogs because they had given him burial."
SOURCES
GREEK
- Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History - Greek Mythography C1st - 2nd A.D.
BYZANTINE
- Photius, Myriobiblon - Byzantine Greek Scholar C9th A.D.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.